Chapter Eight

Scarlett couldn't sleep. The events of the night replayed over and over in her mind his kiss, the touch of his hand, the way he had spoken to her as if there were no barriers between them. The vulnerability in Elias's voice had shaken her in ways she hadn't anticipated.

She lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her body still warm from his touch, the lingering scent of his cologne on her skin. Every part of her screamed to forget about him, to distance herself from the intoxicating pull he had on her. But the truth was, she couldn't.

Elias had entered her life like a storm, unpredictable and relentless, and she found herself caught in the aftermath. The walls she had spent years constructing, the carefully guarded distance she kept from everyone, were slowly beginning to collapse. He was breaking through each one, piece by piece.

Scarlett rolled over in bed and glanced at her phone. She had missed several calls one from her best friend, Naomi, and a few from her mother. She hadn't spoken to either in days, not since she got caught up in Elias's world. She knew Tessa would be furious if she found out what had been happening. They shared everything, and Tessa had always warned her about falling for someone like Elias.

Scarlett pressed her fingers to her temples, feeling the pressure of the decisions weighing on her. She needed to talk to someone who knew her someone who could offer perspective. Without thinking twice, she dialed Naomi's number.

"Scarlett! I've been trying to reach you for days! Where the hell have you been?" Naomi's voice was a mix of concern and frustration.

"I... I've been busy," Scarlett said, her voice trailing off. "I just... I need to talk to you about something."

"Of course. Talk to me about anything. What's going on?" Naomi replied, her tone softening.

Scarlett hesitated. "It's Elias. Things are... complicated."

Naomi scoffed. "Complicated? It's always complicated with him. I told you, Scarlett. Don't get involved with him. He's trouble."

"I know," Scarlett murmured. "But I can't help it. I'm in too deep, Tessa. And I don't know how to get out."

Naomi was silent for a moment before she spoke again, more gently this time. "You need to figure out what you want, Scarlett. Don't lose yourself in him. I know he's attractive, and I know he's rich, but you're stronger than that."

Scarlett swallowed hard. "I don't know if I'm strong enough to walk away."

"Just promise me you'll think about it. Your happiness is what matters. Don't let him control you."

Scarlett nodded, though she knew Naomi couldn't see her. "I will. Thanks, Naomi."

After hanging up, Scarlett sat in the silence of her apartment, the weight of Naomi's words pressing heavily on her chest. She needed to be more careful, but Elias's presence was like a magnet she couldn't resist.

Later that day, when Scarlett arrived at The Regent, the upscale restaurant Elias frequented, she found him seated at a corner table, his usual calm demeanor on full display. He looked up as she approached, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile.

"You came," he said, his voice low and warm, as though it were a personal victory.

Scarlett didn't respond immediately. Instead, she took a seat across from him, studying his face for any hint of what he was thinking. She knew he was watching her closely, his dark eyes never leaving hers.

"I don't know why I'm here," Scarlett finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is... this isn't what I expected."

Elias raised an eyebrow, leaning forward slightly. "What did you expect, Scarlett?"

"I don't know," she replied, shaking her head. "I just... I thought I could control this. Control my feelings."

Elias's gaze softened, but there was still a dangerous intensity in it. "You can't control everything, Scarlett. Not with me."

His words hung in the air, thick and loaded with meaning. Scarlett swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his gaze on her skin. She had to admit she didn't want to control this. There was a part of her that wanted to let go, to let him take her wherever this was going.

"I'm not a casual fling, Elias," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "I don't want to be just another name on your list."

Elias leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, finally, he spoke. "Neither do I."

Scarlett's heart skipped a beat, but she didn't say anything in response. She wasn't sure what to make of his words. Was he serious? Was he just saying what she wanted to hear?

Before she could process her thoughts further, Elias reached across the table, his hand brushing against hers. The touch was electric, sending a jolt of heat straight through her. "I told you I want you, Scarlett," he murmured, his voice husky. "And I don't say things I don't mean."

Scarlett's breath caught in her throat, her pulse quickening as she tried to maintain her composure. The attraction between them was palpable, and she couldn't deny that she felt it too. But that didn't change the fact that she was terrified. She had never let anyone in this deeply, never allowed herself to be this vulnerable.

But with Elias, it felt different. It felt inevitable.

As they sat there, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife, Scarlett realized that she was at a crossroads. She could walk away, leave this all behind, or she could give in to the desire that had been building between them since the moment they met.

Before she could make up her mind, Elias's hand closed around hers, pulling her attention back to him. His thumb stroked the back of her hand, his gaze never leaving hers.

"I'm not going anywhere, Scarlett," he said, his voice soft yet full of promise. "And neither are you."

The words sent a shiver down her spine. She didn't know what the future held with Elias, but in that moment, she knew one thing for certain she couldn't escape him. Not anymore.